The French Market. In case you needed another reason to visit the French Quarter, here it is: you can get an impressive variety of unique and often unusual jewelry – sterling silver, semi-precious stones, vintage and antique, and interesting creations from local artists – and for a reasonable price. Try buying from a local New Orleans jeweler – many of the artists also sell their work at the Freret Market on the first Saturday of each month (barring the summer months). Feel free to bargain – you may not be successful, but it doesn’t hurt to try.
Select retail shops. The problem with shopping for jewelry at retail stores in the mall: everyone knows about the stores, and everyone can buy the jewelry. It takes no concerted effort or scouting. But this doesn’t mean you can’t find something special, reasonable, and unique. In addition, retail stores will often give you more options, and – if something goes wrong – you have a better shot at returning or exchanging the purchase. Best stores for trendy and reasonable jewelry: White House Black Market (Canal or Lakeside), Francesca’s (Canal), New York & Company (Lakeside), and Express (Lakeside). Many women flock to these stores and others (like Ann Taylor or J. Crew) and go straight for the clothing, when they often feature a wonderful selection of jewelry, like the triple strand necklace from New York & Company pictured above on the left (priced at only $16.95) or the “glass pearl linear” earrings from White House Black Market pictured below on the right, on sale for only $14.99.
.jpg)
Thrift, vintage, and antique stores. Skip the chain Buffalo Exchange for the Funky Monkey, where you can find inexpensive and trendy jewelry. Need something loud and costume-y for Mardi Gras? This is your place. If you’re looking for something a little more elegant and high end, try shopping the antique stores along Decatur in the French Quarter (closer to Esplanade). You can find gorgeous antique cocktail rings, fine jewelry with precious stones from the 20s, 30s, and 40s, and a variety of stunning and exuberant costume jewelry. Again, feel free to bargain.
Online. Surf the web for some unique statement jewelry – you won’t have to worry about hundreds of other women buying the exact same beaded necklace from a retail chain. Check out the elegant, delicate and innovative collection of Robyn Rhodes, whose jewelry has been worn by a wide range of celebrities. For most of her styles, you can choose the metal as well as the stone to suit your particular tastes, and prices are as low as $40. You should also check out Style Folio Jewelry. The site carries a wide range of styles and an even larger price range, but I recommend looking at their vintage jewelry. You can find some very elegant pieces for reasonable prices. The site also has a “trend updates” section in which the designer shows how to pair different types of jewelry with your outfits.
Other options: most of your favorite clothing stores – from Stein Mart to Saks Fifth Avenue – feature an extensive collection of jewelry. When shopping, have both a style and price range in mind, but stay open to unexpected surprises!
Comments